Packing case



March 27, 1934. E. MCE. NEARY PACKING CASE Filed Aug. 22, 1932 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE assignor of one-half to Daniel Mervyn Simmons, Tauinarunui, New Zealand Application August 22,

1932, Serial No. 629,981

In New Zealand October 14, 1931 4 Claims.

This invention relates to packing cases, and particularly to the class of case constructed so as to be capable of being broken down or collapsed in order to occupy as little space as possible, when being returned empty, or for stowage purposes.

I am aware of cases constructed with grooved corner posts in which dovetailed or plain sides are inserted and secured.

The object of the invention is to provide for m the aforesaid purpose, an improved form of case a formed with projections along its edges, the projections of adjoining edges of separate members interlocking along the corners of the case and having fitted thereon grooved covering and looking strips.

Each side, the top and the bottom of the case has formed along one edge a series of parallel sided projections and along the opposite edge a series of projections undercut to produce dovetailed recesses, the remaining edges each being formed with a series of projections slotted at one side.

The case ends are provided at each edge with a series of projections slotted at one side, while the covering or looking strips are of right angle cross section, the grooves being formed lengthways in the inner surfaces of the strips and at right angles to each other.

The sides, top, bottom and ends are fitted together so that the parallel sided projections of the sides, top and bottom are engaged in the dovetailed recesses of an adjoining top, bottom or side, while the slotted projections at the ends of said sides, top and bottom interlock with the slotted projections on the case ends, the double 545 row of projections obtained along each corner of the case, being covered and reinforced by the grooved angle strips, which are slid thereon.

In order, however, that the invention may be better understood, it will be more particularly de- 50 scribed with the aid of the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view, and

Fig. 2 an end view of a case constructed according to the invention, while Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the case ends, and

Fig. 4 a plan view of one of the members used as a top, a bottom, or a side.

Fig. 5 is a plan View, and

Fig. 6 a end view of the case with the covering and locking strips removed.

Fig. '7 a part perspective view of one of the longitudinal covering and locking strips, and

Figs. 3 and 9 part perspective views of the covering and locking strips used at the ends of the case.

The sides, the top, and the bottom indicated by the numeral 1, and the ends 2 of the case, are formed preferably of three ply wood, for lightness, while the covering and locking strips are formed from lengths of solid Wood of suitable weight and strength in accordance with the use to which the case is to be put.

Each side, the top and the bottom 1, see Fig. 4, is provided along one of its edges with a series of parallel sided projections 4, which results in the provision of a series of parallel sided recesses 4* along the same edge, while the opposite edge of said side, top or bottom 1 is provided with a series of undercut projections 5 which results in the provision of dovetailed recesses 5 along the last mentioned edge.

The remaining edges of the sides, top or bottom 1, at right angles to the edges just described, are each formed with a series of spaced projections 6 each of which contains an open ended slot at 6 The ends 2 of the case, are each formed, see Fig. 3, with a series of spaced projections 7 along each edge, said projections '7 each containing an open ended slot 7 The sides, top and bottom 1, and the ends 2 are fitted together, by inserting the parallel sided projections 4 of each member comprising a side, a top, or a bottom, in the widest portion of the dovetailed recesses 5 of a member 1, comprising a top, a bottom, or a side, at right angles to the member being fitted, while at the same time, the slotted projections 6 at the ends of said member, are caused to interlock with the slotted projections 7 along the adjoining or corresponding edges of the case ends 2. If this operation be repeated with each member forming a side, the top and the bottom, it will be found, that the four members 1 comprising the sides, the top and the bottom of the case and the two members 2 comprising the case ends, will be united along, each corner of the case, by means of interlocking projections, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The construction thus obtained, has incorporated therein along each corner of the case, two

rows of interlocking projections, the projections in each row being disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the projections of the co-acting row thereof are disposed, and said projections are reinforced, further locked together and protected by means of the covering or looking strips 8, 9, and 10 as follows:-

Each of the strips 8, 9 and 10, is of right angle cross section and contains in its inner surfaces longitudinal grooves 11 at right angles to each other, and adapted to pass upon the double rows of projections along the corners of the case, the strips 8 and 9 being used to form frames around the case ends, while the strips 10 are used on the longitudinal corners of the case, or the corners extending between the ends of the latter.

In fitting the strips, the strips 8 are first slid in position upon the double rows of projections along opposite corners or" the ends, following which the strips 9 are slid upon the double rows or" projections along the remaining corners of the ends, said strips 9 extending partly across the ends of the strips 8, and being rebated or cut away at 9 to accommodate the strips 10 which are slid upon the double rows of projections along the corners extending between the case ends.

In order to securely lock the ends 2 to the sides, top and bottom 1, Wedging or looking pieces 12 are inserted between the interlocking projections '7 of the ends and the interlocking projections 6 of the sides, top and bottom, in order to keep the slotted portions '7 and 6 of said projections fully and positively interengaged.

In order to economize space, when the case is to be returned empty and also for stowage purposes, the case is taken to pieces and the separate parts placed fiat upon the top, bottom, or one of the sides, and secured together by any approved means, thereby enabling a compact and conveniently handled package or bundle to b obtained. 7

What I do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:-

l. A packing case comprising a top, a bottom, side and end members, projections formed along the edges of the me bers, the projections of adjoining edges of separate members interlocking in double row formation adjacent the corners of the case, the projections in each row being disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the projections of the coacting row are disposed, and covering and locking strips provided with grooves at right angles to each other for directly engaging and enclosing the double rows of projections.

2. A packing case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering and locking strips are of a right angle cross section and have their inner surfaces provided with the grooves which receive the projections.

3. A packing case, as in claim 1, wherein each top, bottom or side member, has formed along one edge a series of parallel sided projections, and along the opposite edge a series of projections undercut to produce dovetailed recesses, the remaining edges each being formed with a series of 100 slotted projections.

i. A packing case as claimed in claim 1, wherein each top, bottom and side member has formed along one edge a series of parallel sided projections and aiong the opposite edge a series 105 of projections undercut to produce dove-tailed recesses, the parallel sided projections being inserted in the dove-tailed recesses at right angles thereto, the remaining edges of the top, bottom and side members as well as all of the edges of 110 the end members having slotted projections engageable with each other.

EDWARD MCELWAIN NEARY. 

